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Steve Jobs biography debuts; Apple to post video of his memorial

Steve Jobs' biography — easily the most hotly anticipated title of 2011 — debuts today, offering a warts-and-all view of the cultural icon and technological wizard who co-founded Apple.

Apple, meanwhile, is promising to make public a video of Jobs' memorial service, which was shrouded in secrecy when it was held last week. For those interested in the video, called "Celebrating Steve," Apple's website advises: "Available soon. Please check back later."

The announcement of plans to post the video came just hours before Monday's release of "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson. The author apparently had Jobs' blessing to write an unvarnished account, and Jobs submitted to interviews over the course of several years, including right before Jobs died.

Both the book and the video are sure to be gobbled up by fans, admirers, colleagues and life students of Jobs, all of whom seem to have an insatiable interest in a man whose cultural influence can be seen and felt in many areas of our lives — cellphones and computers being just a few. His Oct. 5 death at age 56, after a long battle with cancer, elicited emotional reactions and tributes from around the globe.

The memorial service was held Wednesday at Apple's Cupertino headquarters under tight security, in part to fend off protesters. Speakers included former Vice President Al Gore, and Apple closed its stores for several hours to allow employees to watch a live stream of the event.

Jobs reportedly decided to cooperate with Isaacson because the executive wanted his children to better understand him after he left their lives. Jobs is said to have encouraged friends and colleagues to be honest with the author as well.

The book has been at the top of Amazon's preorder list for weeks, meaning it's almost certain to be No. 1 on the bestseller list this week.